In their 63rd game of the 2018-19 season, a 118-109 loss to the Suns in Phoenix, the Lakers managed a near-perfect 48-minute microcosm of the 62 they had played before, one more misaligned performance in a misaligned season. It featured the limitations of a poorly constructed roster exposed even more by injury and one that has handcuffed a head coach with a habit of odd rotation choices. It also showed a superstar putting up big numbers but not quite able to drag his teammates to victory, resulting in another embarrassing defeat.

In their 64th game, a 113-105 loss to the Clippers on Monday night, the Lakers had their 2018-19 season, for all intents and purposes, taken out behind the barn and put down. But just because the playoff push has functionally ended doesn’t mean the rest of the games are canceled. The remaining 18 contests have the potential to reach levels of awkwardness generally reserved for junior high dances.